25 Differences: Blueberries

The first time I did this assignment I used a carton of blueberries that proceeded to be eaten the following night. After learning that I actually needed those guys to create a composition, I bought another. Unfortunately, that poor carton was fated to grow moldy with neglect -- but in my defense, what kind of ethical supermarket sells berries that go bad in three days? Anyway. Here I am. Take three. Better late than never, eh?

Shape:
1. Spherical
vs.
2. Disc-shaped, flatter
3. Symmetry of form: "star" on top aligned with "bellybutton" on bottom
4. Round
vs.
5. Oblong

Size:
6. Disc-shaped berries tend to be larger, wider
vs.
7. Rounder berries tend to be smaller
8. Varying heights of raised edges of "star"
9. Size of "bellybutton" not always proportional to size of berry

Color:
10. Blue skins all over
vs.
11. Red skins on bottom surrounding "bellybutton" of the berry
12. Darker, saturated skin shades
vs.
13. Lighter, desaturated skin shades
14. Yellow stains when squished
vs.
15. Purple stains
16. Yellow flesh inside
vs.
17. Green flesh inside

Texture:
18. Wrinkles of the skin
vs.
19. Smoothness of the skin
20. Speckles in the skin
vs.
21. Uniformity of color and shade throughout single berry
22. Dents in the berry
23. Squishiness
vs.
24. Firmness
25. Juiciness when squished

t-shirt differences

1) comprised of different material
2) different sizes
3) one is more wrinkled than the others
4) one looks more used than the others
5) one stands out more (brighter)
6) some sleeves are rolled up
7) some are hung perfectly, some are not
8) some droop lower than others
9) one takes more space than the others
10) one looks like it belongs in another column of t-shirts
11) one looks better maintained than the others
12) one fits into a different category of styles
13) one sticks to the other t-shirts
14) one is corduroy
15) one overlaps 3 other shirts
16) one is trying to hide amidst the other shirts
17) one looks like it was never worn
18) one needs to be washed
19 ) one looks like the material is thinner
20) one looks warmer than the others

Design Biennial

(Images are coming... having trouble uploading. I'll edit the post once I figgur' it out.)

The theme of the Design Biennial was Action/Reaction caused by the problems facing society today. Each piece of art was a response to how our world is quickly developing and changing, centered mainly on the need for more eco/green products friendly to our Earth and the environment it creates. Although the works fell into widely different "categories" of art (graphic design, fashion design, transportation design, etc.), the main theme was to take what we have in society today and develop a safer, more sustainable version for the future. This theme is extremely relevant because of the problems we face and solutions we seek in the world today. Listening to the news or looking at the newest ad campaigns for environmental/social/political problems has become more common throughout the past ten years, reaching the peak of its popularity now more than ever.

The theme was clearly expressed through many of the objects on display. The idea of "eco-friendly" was very obvious throughout the exhibit, as well as the process of recycling, reusing, and rethinking. One object that caught my eye was the Tom's Shoe cloth doormat/pot-holders. I'm not sure if it was the use of a brand name or the fact it was on the floor, but it caught my eye because of the way the designer took one familiar, already socially beneficial object and turned it into two more things, both of which were environmentally beneficial.

The idea that captured the theme most clearly, for me, was the Toyota Prius landscape ads. Aside from taking the idea of going green quite literally, the piece effectively communicated its purpose through the materials and the design. It assessed a current issue (the excessive use of fuels, a cars impact on the environment) and communicated the way of rethinking the idea in general as well as the idea of how to advertise it.

I found the majority of the fashion design pieces the most interesting, probably because I used to work in a fashion boutique. Although, I did really find the way of designing and using natural materials to create unique pieces of jewelry very intriguing. Looking at how carefully crafted the pieces were, I couldn't help but realize how much more I would appreciate accessories if they weren't mass-produced like many are today. I find that my eyes are constantly drawn to favor something different and foreign than something familiar and popular.

The piece that I found the least compelling, although beautiful, was the cut paper decoration hanging from the corner. I was very intrigued by how large and carefully constructed the layers were, but I didn't get the point of what it had to do with the theme of Action and Reaction. It was a captivating piece, but almost seemed of a waste of paper thinking about the green aspect to the exhibit.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the exhibition for many reasons. I never had much time before I came to college to seek out exhibitions and museums like these, so getting the chance to finally see artwork in Los Angeles was a nice break from campus life. Also, I'm very interested in the Green Movement, so I appreciated seeing how many different ideas centered around Earth's environmental crisis. The artists could have reacted to many different things, but the focus on Earth was encouraging.